Таинственный остров

           GideonSpilettproposedtocontinuetheexploration,thatthequestionofthesupposedwreckmightbecompletelysettled,andheaskedatwhatdistanceClawCapemightbefromtheextremityofthepeninsula.

           "Aboutthirtymiles,"repliedtheengineer,"ifwetakeintoconsiderationthecurvingsofthecoast."

           "Thirtymiles!"returnedSpilett."Thatwouldbealongday’smarch.Nevertheless,IthinkthatweshouldreturntoGraniteHousebythesouthcoast."

           "But,"observedHerbert,"fromClawCapetoGraniteHousetheremustbeatleastanothertenmiles.

           "Makeitfortymilesinall,"repliedtheengineer,"anddonothesitatetodoit.Atleastweshouldsurveytheunknownshore,andthenweshallnothavetobegintheexplorationagain."

           "Verygood,"saidPencroft."Buttheboat?"

           "TheboathasremainedbyitselfforonedayatthesourcesoftheMercy,"repliedGideonSpilett;"itmayjustaswellstaytheretwodays!Asyet,wehavehadnoreasontothinkthattheislandisinfestedbythieves!"

           "Yet,"saidthesailor,"whenIrememberthehistoryoftheturtle,Iamfarfromconfidentofthat."

           "Theturtle!theturtle!"repliedthereporter."Don’tyouknowthattheseaturneditover?"

           "Whoknows?"murmuredtheengineer.

           "But,—"saidNeb.

           Nebhadevidentlysomethingtosay,forheopenedhismouthtospeakandyetsaidnothing.

           "Whatdoyouwanttosay,Neb?"askedtheengineer.